Delaware Dreamin’ in Bethany Beach

The Bethany Beach Boardwalk stretches a half-mile and is the perfect setting for a jog or casual walk. (Photo by DenisTangneyJr/iStock)

This article is part of Jmore’s May/June 2021 Travel Issue featuring nearby getaways for the not-so-accidental tourist.

In March of 2020, my family and I went to Disney World in Florida. At that point, the world knew about the coronavirus outbreak abroad, but at home, whispers were just starting to percolate about what this could mean for those of us living in the United States.

We had a blast at the most magical place on Earth. We felt relaxed with not a care in the world.

Once we returned home, that relaxed feeling from vacation quickly disappeared, and within 10 days our entire world changed. Schools shut down, businesses closed, trips were canceled and the country went into lockdown.

Now, more than a year later, travel and tourism are just starting to pick up. In fact, with more Americans getting vaccinated, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently updated its travel recommendations for fully vaccinated people.

Even though the CDC is lifting some of the travel restrictions, not everyone will feel comfortable getting on a plane just yet. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go somewhere. And with so many destinations within driving distance of the Baltimore metropolitan area, vacationing is back on the table.

The small coastal Delaware town of Bethany Beach is one of my favorite nearby destinations. In fact, it’s the first place I traveled to when I finally left the 21208 ZIP code post-quarantine. Just a 2 ½-hour drive from Baltimore, it’s the perfect spot for a weekend getaway. While traffic can increase driving time, leaving Baltimore at off-hours reduces the chance of hitting that dreaded Chesapeake Bay Bridge backup.

In April, I visited Bethany with my girlfriend for a quick 36-hour moms’ getaway. We left Baltimore on a Thursday evening and returned home on a Saturday night, hitting no traffic because of the times we opted to travel.

The quaint beach town is home to fabulous beach homes and tasty seafood restaurants, but my favorite go-to place to eat is Grotto Pizza, since it reminds me of my teenage years.

I used to come to Bethany multiple times each summer with my friends from high school. We would pack up our cars, grab the road snacks and come stay at the beach for days on end. When we got to Bethany, our first stop was usually Grotto’s for “the legendary taste” (like the pizzeria’s motto). It didn’t matter what time we arrived, we picked up pizza and brought it with us as we settled in for our vacation.

No Bethany Beach weekend was ever complete without a visit to town for some Dickey’s Frozen Custard and Boardwalk Fries. We usually took a walk on the beach to the boardwalk to get our hands on those mid-beach day treats.

When I think of Bethany Beach, I think of those times. And no matter how many years have passed, whenever I’m at Bethany, those memories come flooding back, leaving a big smile on my face.

I traveled to Bethany in April without my kids. But with the beach, its newly built, state-of-the-art playgrounds, numerous beach homes to rent so you don’t need to worry about a hotel, and tons of restaurants with outdoor seating, it’s a solid option for a kid-friendly, pandemic-proof family vacation.

One I can’t wait to take with my family!

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